Malacañang on December 12 maintained a neutral position on the plunder and graft complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte over ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, emphasizing that the matter should be thoroughly investigated.
Asked about the new complaints, PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said, “Muli, kung ito naman po ay mayroon silang basehan para masampahan ng kaso ang Bise Presidente, depende na po iyan sa mga complainants. Kung ano po ang isinasaad sa kanilang complaint, kung nakapag-attach sila ng kanilang mga ebidensiya, mas maganda pong maimbestigahan ito nang mabuti.”
The filing, led by former DOF Undersecretary Cielo Magno and 2025 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Fr. Flavie Villanueva alongside Fr. Robert Reyes, accuses Duterte of plunder, graft, malversation, and other offenses related to confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.
The complainants argued that Duterte repeatedly refused to clarify her spending despite congressional hearings, “betraying the people’s trust.”
These allegations were previously cited in a House impeachment complaint, which the Supreme Court later struck down for violating the one-year bar rule and respecting Duterte’s right to due process.